Machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. M. PILGHER. DITOHING MACHINE.

No. 513,824. Patented Jan. 30, 1894.

W/TNESSES UVVE/VTOR v A TTOH/VEYS.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. M. PILGHER. DITGHING MACHINE. No. 513,824. Patgnted Jan. 30, 1894.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

G. M. PILGHER. DITOHING MAGHINE.

WITNESSES:

A TTOH/VEYS.

and claimed. v I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart ofthis specification,

UNi-rEn STN-rES I GEORGE in. PIL E OF Lot-mama, merrier.

i niTcHi c-MAcr-tin SPECIFICATION forming part ornate. Batent No. 513,24, v sa; January 30,1894;

Application filed March 7, i893. 1

To all whom, it may concern.-

Logansport, in the county of Gassand State a full, clear, andexactdescription. v I

My invention relates to improvements in ditching machines; and theobject of my invention is to produce a practical, durable, and

eflici'ent machine which is adapted to be moved along over a ditch,which is adapted to rapidly excavate a smooth wall ditch, and which isprovided with an attachment adapted to break up frozen ground and rock.

To this end my invention consists in cer-' tain features of constructionand combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described" 1 in whichsimilar. figures of reference indicate corresponding parts'in all. theviews.

Figure 1 is a planvi-ew of the machine, Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section on the line 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a brokensectional end. view of thernachine. "Fig: 4-is a detail sectional viewofone of the friction drum clutches. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of thescrewand nut vmechanism for adjusting the guys which support the uprightframe.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan ofthe driving rod" and oneof its guides.,Fig. 7'is a broken side elevation on an en'largedscalaofi the shovels,

the guide frame :forthesaine, and theguide" mechanism for operating theshovels.v Fig.

' 7 is a detail view of .the ratchet. mechanism whichlocks the drivingframe to' the guide frame. 8-8 in Fig. 7-. Fig. 9 is'an' enlarged viewofthe hinge connection between the carriageand the upright frame. Fig;lOis a broken detail elevation of the boom andcarriag'e;

Fig. 8- is a vertical sectionon the line serinnmeaem. (Num ri -1.;

carriage 1O whichhaspreferably': aplatforln Be it known-that LGEORGE M.PILCHER, of

and which is provided with wheels 11 adapted v to straddle a'ditclrandrnn-onplanksor other of lnd ana, have invented a new and ImprovedDitching-Machine, of which the following 'is supports. Thecarr'iageis-provided with a boiler 12am engine 13 which may be of anysuitable drums capable of being thrown out of gear may be employed,however. The

- mechanism-operated by the cranks 17 I do not claim as my invention,but itis shown in Fig. 4.. Each drum is mounted loosely on a shaft 18which is journaled insu-it'able supports on the carriage'IO and theshaft lSconnects at one end-by means of a ball jointlti with a 'screw'20 to'which the. crank, lcve 1' 17 is applied, and which is threaded ,ina support, as shown in Fig. 4. Oneend of the drum has a concave flange2-1 which is adapted" to contact with a cone pulley 22 carnied by theshaft "18,'-and the drum is, normally pressed out of contact with thepulley 22 .b'y'a spiral spring, as shown inthe drawings. By turning-theshaft, the; screw 20, is operated and the c'one pulley drawn against theflange of th 'e drum or "pushed away .from the same,

according astowhether the drum is to be driven-or released. Oneof theshafts is prolonged, as-s'h'own at 2l. in Fig. 1, and on this longshaft, which projects beyondo'ne side of the carriage, is a,groovedfpulley 25 around which a cable may be placed for hoisting orother purposes. 'lhepulleyis thrown in and out of gear by means ofaclutchLEZS on the shaft 24, which clutch is controlled by a lever 29,and is not shown in detail. "The carriage is propelled either forwarderbackward by means ofa, cable 27 which is wound around the drum l5 andextends downward and be 'neathguide-pulleys 26 on the carriage loot-.

tom, one strand passing out from the carriage at one end and the. otherstrand passing out at the opposite end. The two ends of the cable may bemade fast in the usual way and by winding the cable on the drum, thecarriage is moved.

frame near the top and which extend rear-- ward to a point near the rearend of the carriage, each guyrhaving at its lower end a bolt 33 which.enters a hanger 34 on the carriage to which it is adj ustablysecured bythe jam nuts 35. It will be seen that by adjusting these nuts the pitchof the frame will be regulated, and in this way the frame may beadjusted so as to carry the driving rod in a vertical position, ashereinafter described, even though the carriage is running on a com-'paratively steep grade. 1 I In the front of the machine, near the centerof the frame 30, is an upright shaft 36, the lower end of which isstepped on the carriage by a ball and socket joint 37. I The upperend ofthe shaft is journaledin a hanger 38 secured to a cross bar 39 on-theframe 30. Extending parallel with the shaft isa post 40 which is hung soas to turn horizontally around the shaft, the post being connectedtherewith by means of hangers or brackets 41 which are secured to thepost and journaled on the shaft. -This post forms part ofa horizontal-1yswinging boom, which extends forward from the upright frame 30 and whichhasamain-brace or beam 42 which extends diagonally upward andforward'from the foot of the post. A curved brace 43 which is se-' curedto the beam 42, is secured at its lower. end, as shown at 44 to theupper end of the post 40, is secured at its upper end between straps 45which clasp the top cross bar of the frame 30 and are pivoted to'theback side thereof, as shown at 46, and a forwardly extending arm 47which aligns with the lower member of the brace 43. The. upper end ofthe beam 42 and the outer end of the arm 47' are provided with guideframes 48 through which the driving rod moves vertically, one of theseframes being shown clearly in Fig. 6, andthe frame is bolted to the beamor arm by bolts 49, the frame having opposite members to clasp the beamor arm and the frame: has, in its sides and near its outer end, grooves50 in which runs the center plate 51 of the driving rod 52. This rodcomprises the longitudinal center plate 51 and timbers 53 which arebolted to opposite sides of the plate, as shown in Fig. 6. It is adaptedto move upward through the guides 48, carrying with it the diggingmechanism, and then to .be dropped through the guides so as to force thedigging mechanism into the ground. To the lower end of the driving rodis secured the driving frame 54 which extends at right angles to thedriving rod, and has, on its upper side,.asocket 55 -adapted to besecured by 52, and this construction enables the driving frame to beeasily detached when the pick or rock hammer is to be fastened to thedriving The drivirf frame has outwardly extending curved. arms '56on itsopposite sides, which enter between rollers 57 which are journaled vcured to the curvedshovels 59 which extend downward and converge, sothat whenin their lowest position theirlower edges meet, as illustratedinFig. 8,=,thus forming a scoop which is capable of raising the dirtheld between the shovels. i r

The shovels 59 'are adapted to slide vertically through slots 61 in aguide frame which extends parallel with the driving frame 54 and whichis open in the center, as shown at 60 in Fig. 8. The shovels are alsoadapted to move in slots 62 which are produced in the upwardly extendingand inwardly curved guides 63, these being arranged on opposite sides ofthe guide frame and have their upstrengthen them. These grooves or slots62 cause the shovels, when raised, to converge at their upper'ends andbe separated at their lower ends, thus opening them so that they maydischarge the material which they have raised. a

On opposite sides of the guide frame and on the sides at right angles tothe guides 63 are upwardly extending ratchet bars 65, which have springs66 at their abutting their lower ends lar 67 on the ratchet bar. adaptedto contact with the flanges 68, see Fig. 8, on the upper side of thedriving frame with a sliding coldriving and guide frames-are dropped thesprings 66 will absorb a portion of the jar so as to prevent any of theconnected parts from being broken. The ratchet bars also servethe-purpose of holding the shovels together when the latter are lowered,and this is the chief function of the bars. To this end the ratchetbarsare provided on inner sides with notches 69, the inclinations of whichare on the lower portions, and these notches are adapted to engage dogsor pawls 70 which slide laterally in suitable supports on the drivingframe 54 and which are pivotally connected with. a lever 71,as shown inFigs. 7 and 7 and the dogs are normally pressed into engagement with theratchet bars by suitable 'springs. One dog connects directly with thelower end of the lever below its pivot, and the other dog connects withthe lever above its pivot, by a ,rod 71 which passes through a hole 71in the driving frame, see Fig. 8, and thus the dogs may both be operatedat once.

forced downward into the ground so as to scoop up a quantity of earth,the dogs 70 will bolts 56 to the lower end of the driving rod' inhangers 58, the latter being seupper ends, these 54, so that when thetwo frames-that is, the.

It will be seen then that when the shovels are slide down, the ratchetbars engaging them,

per ends connected by cross rods 64 which The collars 67 are l flanges68 will strike the collars 67 and the notch by notch and when thedriving frame, guide frame, and shovels a re raised, the ratchet barsand pawls will prevent the frames rom separating and the shovels fromopening. When the shovels are to be opened, thele- Ver '71 is thrownoutward so as to retract the dogs and permitthe guide frame to drop andthe shovels to open. The shovels are dr ven into the ground, as alreadydescribed, by the re dropping of the driving rod and the two frames 54and 60. This causes the guide frame 60 to stop when it strikes theground, while the continued movement of the driving rod forces theshovels downward and together. To ndicate when the shovels'are full,agong -71 is arranged upon the guide frame 60 and it has the usualpivoted hammer 71, the shank of which extends into the path of thedriving frame 54,30 that when the latter has nearly reached'the downwardlimit of its strokeit strikesthe hammer and rings the gong.

n opposite sides of the guide frame and at right angles to the plane ofthe shovels are depending blades 72 which are buried in the earth everytime the shovels descend, and WhlCh cause the ditch dug by the shovelstohave smooth and vertical sides. The guide rod 1s raised and lowered bymeans of cables 73 and 74.- which are secured to eye bolts 75' and 74 atthe upper and lower ends of the guide red, but it will be understoodthat the gulde rod will drop of its own weight when its connectedgearing is released, as here inafter described. The cables 73 and 74extend substantially parallel with the rod and pass over guide pulleys75 and 76 and back through the brace 4 -2over guide pulleys 77 at thetop of the shaft 36, thence downward nearly parallel with the shaft 36and beneathguide pulleys 78 which are journaled 1n suitable supportsnear the foot of the shaft, and thence around the friction drum 16, thecables being wound in opposite directions so that as one is shortenedthe other will be lengthened- The guide rod and the mechanism carried byit may be shifted from side to side, so as to bring the shovels into theright vertical plane, by swinging the boom which carries the guide rodand this is effected by the tiller cables 79 which are secured toopposite sides of the brace 42, as shown at 78*, and which extend overguide pulleys 80 turnlng'in suitable brackets on the frame 30 and fromthence back around the drum 14; the ropes orcables being wound inopposite directions so as to permit the boom to be readily turned by theturning of the drum. The side movement of the boom is limited by arms 81which are bolted in supports 82 on the sides of the frame 30 and whichextend into the path of the brace 43, and these arms may be adjusted soas to give any necessary swing to the boom.

In operating the machine, the frame 30 is 65 adjusted so as to be in asubs antially vertical position, the boom is swung so as to bring theguide rod above the ditch, the guide rod, the driving frame 54 and theguide frame 60 are raised by means of theca-ble 7e and drum 16, and theguide rod is then dropped by throwing the drum 16 out of gear, and ifnee- .ossary, additional'power may be applied by bles 79 and the drum14:, and the load is do posited by swinging out the levers 71 andreleasing thedogs 70, this operation causing the guide frame to drop andthe shovels to open; If the ground is extremely hard, a pick 83 may beused before the shovels are put in use, this pick having teeth onitsunder side to-enter the. ground and lugs 84 on its upper side whichare adapted to embrace the lower end of the'driving rod and to he boltedthereto. When the pick is used the guide frame and driving frame areremoved by removing the bolts 56 and slipping the socket 55 from thedriving rod, and the lugs 8et'm'a'y then be bolted'to therod; The pickisoperated by simply forcing-the drivingrod upv and down in the mannerdescribed,-and the teeth 85 enter the earth and loosen it up so that theshovels may be thereafter employed;

or if desired 'whereloose'material, such as broken rock, hard gravel,&c., is raised, ordinary lifting buckets'may be attached to the drivingrod in any convenient way, the buckets'filled by laborers, and themachine used merely as a hoisting machine. If rock is to be broken, thedigging mechanism.may.be

detached, as described, and a steel-faced hammer 86 attached to thedriving rod; this hammer being very heavy and having parallel lugs 87which embrace the rodand can be bolted thereto. When the hammer is used,the driving rod is raised in the manner specified, and the driving rodisdropped by throwing the drum 16 out of gear which causesthe hammer todescend with great force so asto break in fragments the rock beneath.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- 1. A ditching machine, comprising a horizontallyswinging boom arranged at one end of the carriage and provided withguides at its free erid, a vertically movable driving rod held to slidein the guides of the boom and provided with guides at its lower end, acable mechanism for operating the drivingrod, and

movable converging shovels orking in theguides iii; the lower end of thedriving rod, vi'iiereby the shovels will be forced downward so ltogether by the descent of the Skill I. rori, suostsntiaily asdescribed.

A ditching machine,oomprising a cer- "e, upright swinging frame mountedhereon mechanism for adjusting end fasten- 1g the mine, 25 horizontallyswinging oooxn eeured to the frame, e vertically movable 11g rod carriedby the boom, cable mechisrn for operating the rod, and digging devicecarrier at the lower end of the rocl incl ooereteo by its movements,substantially as A ditching machine, comprising 2, car- ,.e, swingingupright frame on the car longitudinally adjustable guys extendfrom thecarriage to the frame, morizontsliyswioging boom carried by the frame,

a vertically movsole driving rod held at the tree end of the booms cablemechanism for operating the driving rod, and digging nxclienism srreogedat the lower end. of the rod and adapted to be operated by the move"ments of the letter, substzin tially as describeri.

"1. in a ditching machine, the combination "with a. vertically movabledriving frame, of

convergicg shovels carried by the frame, or

goie frame hel. loosely rothe driving frsioe in which the shovels Work,end moses for lockingtlie clrivingend guirie ironies together,substantially as described.

5. in a (lite-hing machine, the combination. with a. vertically movabledriving frame, of con verging shovels loosely connected with the saidframe, a guide ire-vane held loosely to the drivingfrsm'e beneath thesome and. provided 'WlLLi guiries in which the shovels work, and

means for locking the driving and guide from-es together, substantiallyas described.

5. in ditching machine, the combination with vertically movable drivingframe, of converging shovels loosely connected with the frame, a. guideframe loosely connected with the driving frame beneotii the some, andprovide-3Q with guides in which the shovels work, cutters or; oppositesides of the guide frame and as, right angles to the s'oovelsand forlocking the driving and guide frames together substantially asdescribed.

7. e. ditching machine, the combination with :a suitable support 2.verticsiiy movable driving rod, of a. driving frame secured to the lowerend of the frame held loosely to the driving frame beneath the some and.having cowardly extending guides, con VGlf lTlg curvedsliovels'extemling through the slots in the guide frame, a looseconnection between the upper portioosoi tiicshoveis soil thedrivingireme, and s locking device to look the shovels scribed.

8 In a ditching msei.ine,tl1e combination, with the vertieeli-y movablerlri viii real, of ilao driving frame scoured to its lower provided withupwardly,esteniiing it aside frame lield beneath the driving providedwith slots near its opposite 5,1 opwarclly extending curved 'midessecure to c the guide frame, curved shov s elzji t move in the slots oithe guirie Ii. curved guides of the frmnc. the shovels soil adapted tooi. the driving frame, me in the shovels together, so.

scribed.

9. In a. di iiching machine, (lie coir" with the vertically movable(lrivi' the rlriving frame secured to the lo the rod and having;oppositely extent of the slotteclfguicle frame liel il bees... drivingframe arid girovided with upw extending slotted guides, curved "liovels'to groove in the oi the goiue frsinee q guides, rollers carried lg y thesnovels and new to rm; on Lite arms of the driving .rerno. ratchet barssecured to the guide frame extending upwardly therei'rom, Q'. riecl bythe driving frame and arispteri to the ratchet bars of the frame, 5stsntieily desorioeri.

10. In a ditching; machine, the ooze? together, substantially es (lo--osizin nation,

frame and provirlecl with upwardly curved guides, slicli 11g shovelsoporst driving frame and held to move in and guises oi the guide frame,and 3 depending blades secured to opposite of the guide frame,substantially tlescriberl. 11. In a, ditching machine, the oomliinstiowith a supporting f sine, or" 2.11 upright hinged to the forward part ofthe sun-p frame, meens for-adjusting" the inolinor oi the hinged frame,and s boom inonote hinged fro-me to swing horizontally, fzillESim'jtislly as desorioecl.

12. in a ditchinginsonine, the com 1'' a supporting frame, "11 irri Inhinged to the forward pert A frame, id guys pivoted to upper the hingedframe and having; their other erlj USlEtbly connected to the supportingfirs and a boom inooritcd is tile frame swingiiorizontally,sobstontielly as described.

GEORGE M. lllQGilEl-L.

bine

